Interpersonal Climate
• Interpersonal climate is the overall
feeling, or emotional mood between
people.
• It is the dominant feeling between people
who are involved with each other.
• It is the foundation of personal
relationships.
Self-Disclosure When Appropriate
• Self-disclose the kind of information you want
•
•
•
•
others to disclose to you.
Self-disclose more intimate information only
when you believe the disclosure represents an
acceptable risk.
Move self-disclosure to deeper levels gradually.
Reserve intimate or very personal self-disclosure
for ongoing relationships.
Continue intimate self-disclosure if reciprocated.
Self-Disclosing
Benefits
• May increase trust
• May increase
closeness
• May enhance selfesteem
• May increase
security
• May enhance selfgrowth
Risks
• Others may reject us
• Others may think less
of us
• Others may violate
our confidences
Johari Window
Known
to self
Known to
others
Not known
to others
Not known
to self
Open
Blind
Hidden
Unknown
The Gift of Confirmation
“You matter to me.”
Recognize
Acknowledge
Endorse
Basic requirements for
healthy communication!
Continuum of
Interpersonal Climates
Confirming
Climate
Mixed
Climate
Cycling
Climate
Disconfirming
Climate
Nurture relationships
through
supportive not defensive
communication
Defensiveness – a negative feeling or
behavior that results when a person feels
threatened
Defensive
Communication
Supportive
Communication
• Evaluation
•
Description
•
Certainty
•
Provisionalism
•
Strategy
•
Spontaneity
•
Control
•
Problem orientation
•
Neutrality
•
Empathy
•
Superiority
•
Equality
Ethnocentrism is a form of certainty
communication where we assume that
our culture and its norms are the only
right ones.
Conflict is
• Natural
• Inevitable
• Potentially constructive
Conflict
• Expressed disagreement—all conflict is
expressed verbally or nonverbally.
• Conflict can occur only between people who
depend on each other.
• Conflict involves opposition and is more
than just differences.


The perception that our concerns are at odds with those of
another
The perception that we and another must reconcile our
differences
Principles of Conflict
• Conflict is a natural process in all
relationships.
• Conflict may be overt or covert.


Overt conflict is out in the open and explicit.
Covert conflict is hidden and often
unacknowledged.
• Passive aggressiveness is aggression that is denied or
disguised by the aggressor.
Principles of Conflict
• Conflict may be managed well or poorly.



It can either promote continuing attachment
or split a relationship apart, depending on
how differences are managed .
It involves intense emotions that we may not
know how to handle.
Learning communication conflict skills can
help us deal with differences.
Principles of Conflict
• Conflict may be good for individuals
and relationships.



It allows us to consider other points of
views.
It can support our own identity by
clarifying how we differ from others.
It expands partners’ views of each other.
Responses to
Relational Distress
Exit
Voice
Neglect
Loyalty
Passive
Constructive
Destructive
Active
Guidelines for Creating and
Sustaining Healthy Climates
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Communication enhances a relationship.
Accept and confirm others.
Affirm and assert yourself.
Self-disclose when appropriate.
Respect diversity in relationships.
Fight fair.
Avoiding “stonewalling”.
Affirm and Assert Yourself
• Assertion is a matter of clearly and
nonjudgmentally stating what you feel,
need, or want.
• Aggression involves putting your needs
above those of others.
• Deference involves putting others needs
ahead of yours.
It is as important to affirm and accept
yourself as to do that for others.
Experiencing Communication
in our Lives . . .
View the following video clip and then
answer the questions that follow based
on material presented in this chapter.
A script of the scenario can be found at
the end of Chapter 8.
1. Identify examples of mindreading and
describe their impact on Martha and
Andy’s discussion.
2. Identify communication that fosters a
defensive interpersonal climate?
3. To what extent do you think Andy and
Martha feel listened to by the other?
4. Do you perceive any relational level
meanings that aren’t being addressed in
this conversation?
You may go to your student CD that accompanies the text to
compare your answers to Julia Wood’s.